UFC fighter Paddy Pimblett has doubts about the UFC champions Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev having their super fight.
UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria has been eager to have a super fight with UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev but the event is still uncertain. Islam Makhachev has been having a successful run as the champion and recently defended his title for the fourth time. For now, there is no contender for the lightweight champ. However, a battle with Ilia Topuria might be next in line for him. Topuria, on the other hand, has only had one title defense but he is looking to expand his horizon and grab another championship title and has expressed interest in facing Makhachev. UFC commentator Joe Rogan believes that the super fight is one many in the MMA world would like to see. Despite the encouragement from many for this super fight, UFC star Paddy Pimblett disagrees as he feels Topuria doesn’t have enough notches in his belt to pull this off.
“I can’t see Ilia fighting Islam,” Pimblett said on the Blood Red podcast. “He’s only defended the belt once. Normally you need to defend the belt, like, three times, and he’s not that big of a star to just jump. He’s not [Conor] McGregor. To just jump right up and fight for the other belt, so I can’t personally see that happening, but we’ll see what happens.
“I heard Ilia’s headlining the [UFC] 314 event against Volk, but you don’t know until nothing’s finalized with the UFC. I’ve been told this and that in the last few weeks, last few months, and we’ll just see what happens.”
Pimblett believes the fighters don’t have the stardom to this off like UFC former champion Conor McGregor. The Irishman is considered one of the biggest names in UFC and had one of the biggest PPV title fights when he faced Jose Aldo in 2015 and won the featherweight belt.
The fighter went on to have one of the biggest crossover boxing matches, where he faced Floyd Mayweather. Pimblett believes McGregor is the only fighter who can live by his own set of rules, and Topuria might not have what it takes to merit this treatment. His opinion might be due to his history of animosity with Topuria, which dates back to their first altercation in 2022.
“The Baddy,” on the other hand, is not short of opponents, as he is rumored to face either Michael Chandler or Dustin Poirier. Although the fighter has yet to confirm any rumor, he says he will be at UFC 314 fight in Miami.
“I always tell people not to take no notice of them stupid Twitter pages,” Pimblett said. “They all just talk absolute pony. They just do anything for clicks, but I’m open to fight on 314. Miami. Never been to Miami, so I’m hoping to fight on that. That’s my plan.”
